skoots and cuddles

how i make it through the looooong afternoon

2012-02-15T14:07:00.001-06:00

from the point

coop gets off the kindergarten bus

until dan

comes home

from

work

i need a little help.

thank you

keurig

and

starbucks

french roast dark k-cups

and

hazelnut creamer

and

ice

your faithful and grateful consumer,

erin

family party

2012-02-15T08:54:00.001-06:00

for every birthday

we have a simple little family party

you know

before the big PARRRR-TAY!

max

aka

monster max

aka

unkie

got a adorable monster cake

loved it!

(granny sent the beloved chuggington hat)

happy valentine's day lovebug!

2012-02-14T14:35:00.000-06:00

hope all of you get a chance to celebrate

valentine's day with someone special

be it

your sweetie

your munchkin/s

tonight dan will cooking
he lost our super bowl bet
so
he's the chef for the evening!

in honor of heart day
i thought i'd share max's
school valentines

(he goes to the goddard school two 1/2 days a week to
give momma a little break & a chance to get work done)

lovebugs via oriental trading

happy valentine's day bloggy friends!

xoxo - erin

skoots and cuddles gets a little political

2012-02-13T08:16:00.000-06:00

if you can't see the above video
here's a link

this is NOT a political blog

however

i am a political person

i keep those views to myself

and

only my family/friends have to put up
with that side of me
i tend to get worked-up and rant-y

for years i supported domestic partnerships

didn't see how it was different from marriage

i thought marriage (by definition) was for

a man and a woman

my views have changed
that doesn't happen a lot

maureen walsh from walla walla, washington

she set me straight

bravo maureen!

now i understand.

an inspiring space, my dream home & a sale alert

2012-02-10T07:20:00.004-06:00

what does this space say to me?

beautiful

organized

creative

his space + her space

perfect balance

LOVE

IT

ALL

do you share a home office space?
how do you make it beautiful yet functional?
(image via pinterest)

also
if i had 1.19 million dollars
this is where i would live

go to hooked on houses today
to see more photos of this fantastic barn (built in 1872)
that was converted into a home

i'm outta here
i need some coffee
and
an english muffin.
bye for now.
-erin

one more thing
SALE ALERT

this adorable lamp for $39
from land of nod

valentine project number one

2012-02-09T12:09:00.000-06:00

here's a peek at
cooper's school valentines

i'm sure all his kindergarten friends

will love a big smooch from their buddy!

more fun valentine ideas to come!

muah - erin

things i want (scratch that) NEED to do

2012-02-08T09:12:00.000-06:00

get a fancy-brassy bar cart

via

get a weekend reservation at girl & the goat

(i try & try... to no avail... booo!)

http://www.girlandthegoat.com/

add some wallpaper to my home

via

have an outdoor dinner party

via

start painting again

via

learn to bake/decorate a cake

via

or maybe just forget all that stuff

and just hang with these guys

that seems like a plan :)

(but i wish i could do it all)

xoxo -erin

switch-a-roo... can light to pendant light

2012-02-06T14:07:00.000-06:00

for awhile now i've wanted to hang to pendant lights

over my kitchen island

only problem

i didn't want to hire a electrician

and it seemed complicated to do it myself

(or have my husband do it himself)

it wasn't

dan & i picked up two conversion kits

from home depot for $10 each

i probably could have done the handy-work myself

luckily, i didn't have to

dan did all the heavy lifting

and he transformed this...

to this...

dan tends to dislike electric work

this project went extremely smoothly

like i said, given a few tips from my husband,

i probably could have handled it myself

the instructions were very clear

and the swap-out process was hiccup-free!

hope you're having a great monday!

xoxo - erin

ANOTHER office mood board

2012-02-03T12:16:00.002-06:00

this is my second crack

at a mood board for my office

i still love the first board

however

all i can think about these days

is this mural from anthropologie

my office is perfect

to integrate this lovely mural

thus

the new mood board...

source list: rug, coral lamp, desk/table, basket, curtains, mirror, chair, foo dogs, knock off arco lamp, easel (vintage), fabric (?).

here is my

old mood board

here is a link to the old mood board and source list

i really like both.

thoughts?

xoxo - erin

i'm pinning, and pinning, and pinning, and pinning, and pinning, and pinning

2012-01-31T08:22:00.003-06:00

we're all obsessed

it's not like pinterest isn't useful

it's very useful

and brilliant

why can't i dream up these things?

anyway

here are some fav pins

from the last week

framed vintage hermès scarves

wonder if i could get away with a vintage framed target scarf? - here's the pin

possible master bathroom inspiration

i love the black framed shower and grass cloth - here's the pin

diy acrylic frame instuctions

i have to do this... maybe with my vintage target scarf (hehe) - here's the pin

source for chandelier candlestick covers

i love these, tons of options (patterns & colors) - here's the pin

source for a series of FREE downloadable butterfly prints

there are about 5 or 6 in the series and they're so beautiful! - here's the pin

a yummy one-dish dinner

pan roasted chicken with lemon garlic green beans & potatoes - here's the pin

hope you're having a great tuesday!
happy pinning!
- erin

oh my good golly gosh

2012-01-30T08:35:00.001-06:00

the other day you met my friend

we call him horny... ya, ya, i know what you're thinking
he has horns people!
(if you missed him he was on my dining room mood board... here)

you can find your own horny at z gallerie

as much as i love my rhino

recently found this guy (below) at zgallerie

and he makes me jump for joy

after i had the opportunity to feed a giraffe

my heart pitter-pats for these lovely animals

they're so sweet and gentle

not to mention gorgeous!

i mean... really.... could anything be cuter?

this was the baby.... baby giraffe... omg!

happy day! -e

um.... yes!

2012-01-28T09:40:00.001-06:00

i usually don't post on saturday
hello!

anyway
it's so winter-y outside
i think these cozy blankets
are the perfect chill-buster

they're from in2green

and they rock

heck yes (in blue)

love love love... comes in other colors too

i think this orange one may be my fav

if had an extra 500 bucks, i'd buy 4 or 5 of them
but i don't (who does) so i won't

maybe my handsome hubby will snap one up
for my birthday (in april)

****hint, hint****

they range from $75 to $150

and can be found at wayfair

xoxo - erin

a few simple (yet brilliant) ideas

2012-01-27T09:54:00.000-06:00

every now and then i stumble across

a few brilliant ideas

idea number one

take this...

bekvam spice rack from ikea - $3.99

and create these...

via pinterest

i love these little book shelves

totally stealing this idea for my boys' room

idea number two

where do you keep your bakers twine?

divine twine from wisker graphics - $15 per spool (lasts forever)

why in my sugar dispenser, of course!

via

idea number three

cover up this ugly thing

with this

via

a cute canvas and two hinges

buh-bye ugly

idea number four

are your plastic storage boxes taking up to much space?

here's where you put them!!

you can find diy instructions here

utilize the dead space in your garage.... genius, right?!

idea number five

need to cover up that hideous box sprint mattress?

here you go....

via

a little burlap and some studs... bingo!

sometimes the simple solution

is the only solution

xoxo - erin

upside down

2012-01-26T08:47:00.000-06:00

to date, i've never really "decorated" my ceilings

with the exception of one ceiling

i've always kept my ceiling painted white

now i'm considering a new ceiling option

for my office re-design

a wooden ceiling

i need to do some research

but why can't i put wooden flooring

on the ceiling?

have any of you done this before?

i need some direction

this is my current office mood board

3 of the four walls will be the cream color, the window wall will be tangerine

now imagine that room

with a beautiful wooden ceiling

some inspiration photos (via houzz)

i was wondering if this product from home depot would work?

it's vinyl plank flooring.

do you think you could tell that it's vinyl?

it's not like you can touch it!

here's a close up

it comes in all colors and finishes.

seeing as it's $1.99 a square foot

it really intrigues me.

what are your thoughts?

-erin

nearly complete

2012-01-25T10:11:00.000-06:00

it's been a long haul
and

as you probably already know

i tend to decorate my home in layers

slowly adding items over time

the key word here is SLOOOOWWWWLLLLYYY

after over a year

my dining room is nearly complete

this was my inspiration

a very loose inspiration

really just a jumping off point

these are all the items

i've purchased to date (in mood board form)

source list... curtains - target; light fixture - west elm; rhino - z gallerie; octopus plate - anthropologie;
missoni art - target; table - cost plus; wall color - azurite by martha stewart;
large scale photo canvases - my photography (our first home - the loft in chicago)

here is a (in process) photo taken right after we painted the walls

over a year ago

since then we painted the trim white... yay!

i'm still looking for a rug

and two dining chairs for the ends of the table

something big-ish and upholstered or slip covered

maybe adding a little color?

happy wednesday! -e

"ya, you saw my hair... so i must be BAD"

2012-01-23T11:04:00.000-06:00

i found this video on my iPhone.

before you watch, i want to say a few things....

a) i'm not sure if i should laugh or be worried

b) we don't allow our children to say "shut up"

c) i'm pretty sure coop thinks he's really cool :)

i mean.... what 6 year-old says "oh ya baby"!?

my darling max is THREE!

2012-01-20T09:38:00.000-06:00

happy birthday to my baby

the last of the crew

he is turning 3 today

how bitter sweet

it feels like yesterday that this little boy

came into the world... like a hurricane

so different from my other two

max, my unkie, was a whirlwind of energy

from the start he knew what he wanted

he wouldn't back down

oh how i love him for that

reminds me of me :)

if he is displeased this is the face

you would receive

shoulders back... ready for a fight

max, my baby, my darling boy

your mommy loves you to pieces

our family wouldn't be the same without

your energy and your abundant love

happy 3rd birthday

please make this year go slowly

i want to cherish every second

**********************************************

in honor of your 3rd birthday

here are 3 things i love about my unkie

1) you wear your emotions on your sleeve. you're so easy to laugh, to smile,

to cry, to yell. we always know where we stand with you

2) your deep blue eyes. so expressive, so beautiful

3) your relationship with your siblings.

i can see how much you adore them and they you.

you will have each other for a lifetime and that makes me abundantly happy!

**********************************************

i love you unk! xoxoxoxoxo - mommy

a cure for the blues...

2012-01-19T08:26:00.002-06:00

this time of year

it's so cold and gray

and it makes me blue

good thing i love blue

more specifically navy...

a touch of gold pairs so well with a navy wall

nautical, yet not over-the-top... love the octopus (are we over the octopus thing? never!)

white built-ins, dark floors and loads of white trim... so pretty!

everything but the cushion fabric

black and white photography with navy... yes!

hello shiny blue doors!

paired with the orangey-peaches... so inviting.

blue door and penny tile perfection

large print wallpaper in a tiny space :)

nearly symmetric = love

navy, parsons desk, clear glass lamp and shutters. it's all so pretty!

take off the pillows at the end of the bed..... then it's perfect

there's a big smile on my face right now!

board and batten + navy

my favorite dining room. ever.

everything

beautiful white trim and a striped rug.

who wouldn't love this space? perfect combo of masculine & feminine!

my dining room is navy

and one of my favorite rooms in my home

waiting for a sunny day to take some decent photos

reveal coming soon...

-e

sometimes i just need to...

2012-01-18T07:24:00.003-06:00

2012-01-17T09:29:00.000-06:00

i've been obsessed with color lately

i did a bit of research and collected a bunch

of color quizzes

then proceeded to take them all

about 6 times :)

after taking all the quizzes i've realized...

1) i like blue/gray colors

2) my color choices tell people i'm straightforward... duh!

3) i would rather have a beach vacation than travel to rome.... that a bit surprising

4) i like singer/songwriter music

what do these quizzes say about you?

benjamin moore quiz

take the quiz here

pratt & lambert quiz

take the quiz here

pittsburgh paints quiz

take the quiz here

dutch boy quiz

take the quiz here

glidden quiz

take the quiz here

better homes & gardens

take quiz here

aren't quizzes fun?

i adore them.

i remember the days when i was holed up in my bedroom

taking every single quiz in seventeen & young miss (ym) magazines!

oh the days :)

xoxo - erin

Benjamin Moore

2012-01-16T13:26:00.001-06:00

my new fav benjamin moore colors

(all photos thanks to pinterest)

gray owl

old navy

sweatshirt gray

classic gray

fairview taupe

kendall charcoal

white dove

antique pewter

Mt. Saint Anne

stratton blue

woodlawn blue

what are your favorites these days?

xoxo - erin

reilly's room... the bed

2012-01-13T13:22:00.000-06:00

we are STILL working on our little lady's new bedroom

she is thrilled with the progress

however there is a LOT to be done

i'm looking for a new bed and having trouble

i REALLY wanted this bed (claudette bed from ballard)

but reilly out-right refused

what little girl wouldn't want this adorable bed?

apparently my kid

booooooo

then my eyes were set on this canopy bed

from overstock for $279 (heck yes)

picture it dressed up like this.... (my inspiration photo for reilly's bed)

adding the curtain panels soften the hard lines

well, guess what

the bed is sold out on overstock.com

ack!

so now, i'm looking for a fallback bed

i'm thinking this may work

it's the edland bed from ikea

maybe i can paint it?

pretty cool... no?

what are your thoughts?

erin :)

playing with the instagram

2012-01-11T13:37:00.001-06:00

i've been playing with the instagram on my iphone a lot lately

i'm not sure i really know how to use it

or what to do

i do have one little tip....

bring the photo into instagram, add an "effect", then you save the photo,

THEN bring it back into instagram and add another "effect"

it always turns out better.

her are a few instagram of my photos...

unkie hamming it up for the camera

reilly at the "greatest place on earth"

my lucy bell

antipasta dinner on saturday night.... yum!

what is your favorite iphone app?

i'm always looking for ways to pass the time while

at the bus stop waiting on drop off!

cheers! - erin

photo of the day.... ahhhhh!

2012-01-09T10:22:00.002-06:00

perfect way to start the day

photo of the day – ninjas

2012-01-04T08:51:00.003-06:00

living with boys

ack!

the boys rough housing – while coop sings his made-up song

titled... "ninjas out on the town"!

still obsessed

2012-01-03T16:08:00.003-06:00

i am still a bit obsessed with the stockholm rand rug from ikea

& it's look-a-likes.

or is the stockholm rug a look-a-like for another rug?

not sure, either way... i STILL love it

and am trying to find a place it can live in my new home.

this is why i love it so...

stockholm rand rug from ikea - $199 or $349

maybe i can buy the new zig zag floor pouf

from west elm & call it a day?

west elm - $249

xoxo - erin

favorite things

2011-12-30T12:43:00.000-06:00

every now and then

i like to put together a list of my favorite things

things i already have

things i'd love to have

blah, blah, blah

here are my current loves...

twist & twill blanket

gray and white... love it!

gretel home - $139

basay basket

perfect for the bathroom with rolled up towels

crate & barrel - $70

rhino

i got him for christmas for the dining room wall

we call him "horny"

z gallerie - $50

hammam stripe hand towel

can have a stitched monogram or large digital print monogram

i'm diggin the digital print!

west elm - $10

homegrown monogram mug

i got the "e" for christmas. it makes coffee time so lovely.

anthroplogie - $8

missoni travel tote

still available online from target.

i get so so so many compliments.

target - $50

classic aviator sunglasses

circa tom cruise in his top gun days.... um yes please :)

bloomies - $139

return address stamps
can also be used as a bookplate

emilie friday - $50

that's all for now.

i'm sure this list could go on and on and on!

-e

photo of the day – twas the night before christmas

2011-12-29T10:23:00.001-06:00

i sneaked down after santa's visit :)

merry christmas to us

2011-12-28T09:48:00.000-06:00

over the years santa has been increasingly

generous to my children.

i guess his funds are depleting,

because hubby and me kinda get the shaft.

not this year :)

instead of tons of gifts under the tree, we chose only a few meaningful gifts,

then splurged on a new piece of furniture for our home.

a dream come true... right!?

this is what santa ordered from west elm...

parsons media collection from west elm

this is a much needed item in our new home.

right now we're using a rinky-dinky-tiny ikea cabinet.

which is a problem because...

a. like i stated above it's rinky-dinky- tiny

and is to small for our tv and our family room

c. it's from ikea and it's seen it's day

see it on the back wall?

it worked in our old family room (as seen in the above photo),

but our new family room is 2 stories high

and makes the media cabinet appear very tiny.

i will take some before and after photos once it arrives.

i can't wait!

xoxo - erin

urban outfitters

2011-12-28T09:02:00.001-06:00

did you know that urban outfitters

had a blog?

i had no idea.
yesterday i was perusing

& i found it a bit young for me.

but it was fun & full of great images.

then i ran across this image.

i guess the photo of my master bedroom has made it's rounds around the internet.

usually in relation to tracy melton's artwork (above my bed).

which i adore

if you want to check out the urban outfitter's blog

here's a link.

if you want to check out tracy melton's artwork

here's another link.

hope you're having a nice week.

the week between christmas & new year

is always a weird, hibernating kinda week for us!

cheers - erin

old christmas cards

2011-12-22T10:06:00.001-06:00

over the years, i've tried

to have creative christmas cards

here are a few from over the years

2006

2007

2008

(when i was pregnant with max)

2009

on the inside, it said....

"we have no idea what's been going on!"

2010

i was tired, cranky & lazy and didn't send out a card... ooooops!

2011

i will reveal tomorrow!

i think it's a keeper :)

xoxo - erin

holiday gift wrap

2011-12-14T13:36:00.001-06:00

every year (i try)

to create fun/original

holiday gift wrapping

this is my 2011

gift wrapping...

(thanks to mrs. brownstone for a little help!)

i used the good-ol' hot glue gun

to attach the tags to the clips

otherwise, the tags kept slipping off the packages. ack!

here are some other wrapping ideas

i found on pinterest...

twine & candy canes... cute

lov it!

popsicle sticks as tags

love the tag & ribbon!

old photos

layering paper, ribbon & twine :)

a new take on a old classic... love the glitter letter!

this could be altered to make adorable holiday gift wrap!

that's all for now friends.

let's try and stay stress-free

(ya right!)

cheers - erin

sunday's dinner

2011-12-12T08:04:00.001-06:00

Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite sized pieces

10-12 oz sliced mushrooms

1 small onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound penne or rigatoni + water for cooking

1 cup Parmesan cheese

5 tbs unsalted butter

salt & pepper to taste
chopped fresh parsley for garnish

________________________________________

boil water and cook pasta according to the directions.

melt 1 tbs butter on (med-high heat) in a large skillet until foaming.

salt & pepper chicken and saute until lightly browned.
transfer chicken to plate for later.

melt 1 tbs of butter in skillet. add garlic, mushrooms & onion.
cook for about 10 + minutes until slightly browned.

add cooked chicken back into the skillet.

add the marsala, chicken broth & cream, bring to a boil.

simmer until sauce is is slightly thickened.

drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup cooking water.

return the pasta to the pot with 3 tablespoons of butter.

add the mushrooms/chicken mixture & 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.

cook until the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce, about 1 minute,

adding the reserved cooking water if needed.

Season with salt & pepper.

Serve with additional Parmesan cheese & a garnish of chopped parsley.

recipe adapted from "what's cookin, chicago" (http://joelens.blogspot.com)

the entire family enjoyed it.

well... max only ate the warm crusty bread with butter

and reilly & coop avoided the mushrooms.

it has a great flavor & it's easy to make!

bon appetit!

-e

absent but happy

2011-12-02T07:54:00.001-06:00

sorry it's been awhile.

i've been enjoying a little time off

to work

and

to go here

hawaii!

needless to say,

i was in heaven

we spent the thanksgiving holiday

with my family on the big island

we stayed on the property of the mauna kea
on the kohala coast

we did bunches of nothing
dan golfed
we lounged by the pool and the beach
we ate yummy food
and we geared up for a busy holiday season.

i'll post more photos soon.
but until then ALOHA!

xoxo- erin

thanksgiving tablescapes

2011-11-17T13:37:00.001-06:00

this year, i'm not cookin

so, i'm not setting a table... which i enjoy

but i thought i'd share some of my

thanksgiving tablescapes of the past

2010

2009

how are you decorating your table this year?

you have a little over 6 days to decide!

later gators!

-erin

six

2011-11-14T11:09:00.001-06:00

cooper you're six!
as each year passes

i both celebrate and get a little sad

just a little

my sweet little baby

has become

my sweet big boy

who's goofy

and source of so much joy

and sometimes, just sometimes he's reflective

and enjoys time to himself

there's no other way to say it....

he's just a really great kid.

in honor of t. cooper deegan's 6th birthday

here are 6 things i love about him

1. even at the ripe-old-age of 6

he still loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy

2. he's so sensitive. you can easily put a smile

on his face and just as easily bring him to tears

3. he's a great brother to his big sister and baby brother

they will forever have him steadfast at their side

4. he's a true lady's man

he knows he's adorable, and works it

5. he has an engineer's mind

he can sit for hours building lego houses,

houses that are so creative and detailed

6. he has opinions and expresses them well

sometimes a little aggressively,

but you always know where you stand with coop

coop, you are my little man
and i am so lucky that i get to be your mommy.
every day you amaze me and make me so proud
until the end of time you will be my baby
(even when you have your own kids)
i know you're growing up
and i know one day i'll have to let you go
but until then, please understand
i'm going to hold on as tight as i can
and stock up on cuddles, hugs and kisses
because i love you that much

have a wonderful birthday my darling boy
i love you to the moon and back again!
xoxoxoxoxo - mommy

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T11:48:00.002-05:00

so busy doing halloween-y stuff today

no real time

for a thought-out

well-planned

post

i thought this was great

so, i'm sharing

via (wouldn't you know) pinterest

have a happy
[and safe]
halloween!!
-e

life is short

2011-10-28T08:15:00.001-05:00

SO TRUE

via a link from facebook

happy friday

-e

sorry :(

2011-10-27T19:06:00.001-05:00

i've been missing

the last few days

i'm on deadline with shutterfly

working on wedding stuff

save the date cards

wedding shower invitations

and wedding announcements

here's a bit of what i'm working on

shhhhhhh....

have a great day
fingers crossed i can finish up
all the work
-e

it's arrived

2011-10-21T08:50:00.000-05:00

remember this little table

i ordered from grandin road?

i blogged about it here

well, it has arrived

and i LOVE it

the color isn't as brassy as i would like

but it sure is

• lovely

• sturdy

• easy to put together

• mirrored

• ONLY 49 BUCKS!

you can get one for yourself here

i'm out

have a great weekend

-e